CEO of Mozilla, Brendan Eich, is in a sticky situation today as OkCupid has blocked Firefox from accessing its dating network due to Eich's views against gay marriage. When users visit OkCupid with Firefox browser, they are greeted with a message detailing why the browser is blocked, along with offering alternative browsers to download.
Bear in mind that this is not a complete blockage. OkCupid has chosen to provide a link where Firefox users can still enter the website if they so wish.
OKCupid's statement in full:
Hello there, Mozilla Firefox user. Pardon this interruption of your OkCupid experience.
Mozilla's new CEO, Brendan Eich, is an opponent of equal rights for gay couples. We would therefore prefer that our users not use Mozilla software to access OkCupid.
Politics is normally not the business of a website, and we all know there's a lot more wrong with the world than misguided CEOs. So you might wonder why we're asserting ourselves today. This is why: we've devoted the last ten years to bringing people-all people-together. If individuals like Mr. Eich had their way, then roughly 8% of the relationships we've worked so hard to bring about would be illegal. Equality for gay relationships is personally important to many of us here at OkCupid. But it's professionally important to the entire company. OkCupid is for creating love. Those who seek to deny love and instead enforce misery, shame, and frustration are our enemies, and we wish them nothing but failure.
If you want to keep using Firefox, the link at the bottom will take you through to the site.
However, we urge you to consider different software for accessing OkCupid:
Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari
Thank you,
OkCupid
In response to OkCupid's statement, Mozilla said the company is a supporter of the LGBT community, and also supports the right for marriage equality.
"Mozilla's mission is to make the Web more open so that humanity is stronger, more inclusive and more just. This is why Mozilla supports equality for all, including marriage equality for LGBT couples. No matter who you are or who you love, everyone deserves the same rights and to be treated equally."
If other websites choose to follow OkCupid's lead, there is a chance Brendan Eich might be forced to step down.
